Classic Tracks: GTA Vice City Stories' 'Easy Lover'

Music is a powerful medium. Capable of stirring up long-forgotten memories and evoking powerful emotion in the listener, music can reduce even the burliest of blokes into blubbering, crumpled heaps. And who says that us guys are afraid to show their sensitive side? Poppycock. Of course, video games are no exception to this rule, and as often is the case, a stellar soundtrack can greatly accentuate the on-screen antics, elevating even the most perfunctory scene to hard-hitting greatness.

In a continued celebration of some of gaming’s ear-pleasing aural accomplishments, PSU presents yet another instalment in our on-going Classic Tracks series. For our latest outing, we celebrate the recent launch of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories on PS Vita with a look at one of its most iconic tracks.

A quintessential slice of 1980s pop/rock, the Bailey/Collins composition Easy Lover is a staple of Flash FM in Vice City Stories, and one of the game’s most recognisable tunes. Originally released in 1985, the track was a massive success on both sides of the pond, becoming a U.K. no.1 and peaking at no.2 in North America. In-game, the track is accompanied by a short plug for Flash FM by Collins himself, who proclaims that whenever he’s in town, he “only listens to Flash FM.” No doubt Terri and Toni would be chuffed to bits. In fact, after the track plays, Toni freely admits to being an ‘easy lover,’ something which we doubt any of you will be surprised at given her promiscuous nature.

Easy Lover is a fitting addition to the VCS track line-up, especially considering the fact Collins himself appears in the game during a couple of missions. While track itself isn’t performed during the concert at the stadium (that honour goes to the classic ‘In the Air Tonight’) Collins performed the track live from his 1990 '…But Seriously' tour and it remained a set list staple ever since, albeit without Bailey’s contribution on stage. A bit of trivia: the video for the song isn’t actually a proper video as such, but rather a ‘video of making a video, with Collins and Bailey goofing off during recording sessions and taking in the sights of London via helicopter.

Easy Lover is one of three tracks to feature Collins in VCS, the others being the aforementioned ‘In the Air Tonight’ and Genesis’ ‘Turn It On Again.’